“NOW is the time to step up” and rid Copeland of its abandoned buildings, grot spots and litter problems, says mayor Mike Starkie.

Copeland Council will “chase landlords of derelict properties” and work with “all levels of authority” to ensure that town centres look better.

Mr Starkie said that cleaning up town centres across the borough will entice nuclear contract workers to permanently move to the area, encourage entrepreneurs to set up businesses and attract more tourists.

“When I was campaigning to be elected, this was one of the issues that I really wanted to address because there are some disgraceful buildings across the borough and a shocking problem with litter,” said Mr Starkie. “We need to change the culture, because if you walk down the street and see 200 cigarette butts on the floor then it’s easy to stop caring.

“When you look at somewhere like Keswick, for example, there is hardly any litter on the floor and it shouldn’t be any different here.

“With the massive investment coming into the area, the potential is huge, but nobody will want to move here if we don’t fix the fundamental problems.”

The mayor confirmed that the council would be working closely with the police and parish councils to get tougher on littering and put pressure on landlords and landowners who abandon their property.

He suggested that the council could buy properties that are not properly maintained.

“This is an issue that the council has evaded in the past because it is a complex legal, bureaucratic process to deal with, but now is the time to step up to the plate,” said Mr Starkie. “We want landlords to come forward and approach the council to explore options. But we all need to work together to improve the area. We need people to think about the consequences of littering, because somebody will always have to pick it up.”

Mr Starkie also told a public meeting in Whitehaven last week that a local firm has agreed to fund floral displays in the town centre. He said that further details will be revealed soon.